Influence of prepreg type on skis performance

Abstract

The plastic ski is a high-tech multilayer composite and is assembled using the "sandwich" method: the wooden wedge is protected from below and from above by polymeric materials, which are fixed using adhesive materials ‒ prepregs. They have a structural purpose, are made on the basis of fibrous reinforcing fillers and polymeric binders of various nature. The aim of the work was to compare the performance characteristics of sports and running plastic skis manufactured using various types of prepregs developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. For the obtained skis based on prepreg tape and prepreg fleece, as well as unidirectional two-layer prepreg, the performance quality indicators (deflection, center of gravity position, rigidity of the middle part and bending strength, residual deflection, rigidity of the front and back parts) were determined. The obtained values of the experimental characteristics vary in a narrow range and do not exceed the standard values. The tests allowed to establish an equivalent effect on the performance of plastic skis for both samples based on a two-layer unidirectional prepreg and on a prepreg-tape – prepreg-fleece bond. The use of a two-layer unidirectional prepreg made it possible to double the productivity by simplifying the principle of assembling a ski package (complete wrapping) and the ability of one worker to service two presses. At the same time, it should be noted that the share of prepreg in the cost of a plastic ski is approximately up to 40%, replacing the prepreg-tape and prepreg-fleece bond with a two-layer unidirectional prepreg will lead to a decrease in the cost of the final product due to a 4-fold reduction in the price of the prepreg.